Applicator for treating surfaces



March 14, 1933- ,.c. F. SEIBERT ET AL 1,901,825

APPD' IC ATOR FOR' EREAT ING SURFACES Filed June 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- [N VENTORS ATTORNEY March 14,1933- c. F. SEIBERT ET AL APPLICATOR FOR TREATING SURFACES Filed June 12. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,JW, NVENTORS' A TTORNEY Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" T CARL F. SEIBER'1,'OF HAMILTON, AND ELMER J. SEIBERT, OF CINCINNATI, OHTO i APPLICATOR FOR TREATING SIl'RFACES Application filed June 12,

Our invention relates to applicators for treating surfaces, and is primarily intended for use for treating the surfaces of vehlcles, such as automobiles, in cleaning, waxing or polishing the same. Theobject treated will be hereinafter referred to as an automobile.

Our improved device is intended for use in connection with the vehicle treating device shown, described and claimed in our 19 application for patent on vehicle treating device filed in the United States Patent Office January 17, 1929, as Serial No. 333,189.

It is the object of our invention to provide a novel applicator having a resilient cushion surface; further, to provide a novel applicator having a resilient cushion surface and arranged to yield laterally in its length for accommodating itself to the surface being treated; further, to provide novel 29 driving means. for a surface treating applicator; further, toprovide an applicator with a nest of surface treating bags and means whereby to individually remove the bags for successive use of the bags and, further, to provide an applicator with an absorbent bag and layers of treating bags arranged for individually removing the treating bags for successive use of the treating bags.

The invention will be further readily un- 30 derstood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter:. i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improved device with the flexible part of the driveshaft partly broken away, and the handle shown in axial section.

Fig. 2 is an axial section of our improved device, partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail axial sectional view of the base end of the cushion bag and its driving connections, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional detail view taken in the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail View, showing the inflatable bag, the cushion bag and the applying bags partly broken away, taken on the line 4-4, of Fig. 5.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view ofthe open ends of the bags, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 5, and partly broken away.

1929. Serial no. 370,192.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of our improved device, taken in the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modification of our improved device, partly broken away.

A cushion bag 11 is shown of tapered form and as having a base 12 and an apex 13. This bag is preferably made of resilient material and is instanced'as a soft rubber bag, of rubber having a resilience like that for example used in inner tubes of automobile tires. The rubber is, however, preferably treated so as to make the same oil proof. Therubber bag may, for instance, be'provided with a skin or coating 14 of oil proof substance, such as shellac. The cushion bag may be an inflated rubber bag. 1

If the oil resistance of the bag is in the coating, the bagis preferably inflated when the coating is being applied, the coating being permitted to dry while the bag is in such inflated condition so as to avoid cracking of the coating, which might occur ifthe coating were applied while the bag is in deflated condition. The pressure in the inflatable bag is advisedly low so that the wall of'the bag is readily resilient to slight pressure of the bag upon the surface being treated.

The base of the bag is provided with a hole 16, through which a drive-shaft 17 extends into the interior of the bag. This driveshaft has a hub 18 provided with a flange 19. This flange is in the interior of the bag. A coacting washer 21 is received about the hub at the outside of the bag. A nut 22, threaded over the threaded portion 23 of the hub, is arranged to clamp the flange and'the washer toward each other for clamping the margin 24 of the hole 16 in the base of the bag be tween them, making an air-tight joint with the bag, and forming a driving connection between the hub and the bag. I i

The outer end ofthe drive-shaft is received in the bore 26 of the hub and has driving I connection therewith, as by being brazed to said hub. y

The inflatable bag is shown tapered and of substantially greater length than diameter. The apex end of the inflatable bag pref- 1 erably terminates in a blunt point 27. 00

A shank 31, which is preferably a resilient shank, extends inwardly from the apex end of the bag. This shank is preferably of soft rubber, similar to the rubber of the inflatable bag. The shank rotates with the bag. The outer end of the shank is preferably fixed to the apex end of the bag, as by providing the shank with a conical outer end 32 received in a coacting conical inner socket 83 in the apex end of the bag, the conical plug of the shank and the wall of said socket being fixed together, as by vulcanizing the same together.

The shank 31 extends inwardly in the interior of the bag, and is preferably spaced from the side wall 34 of the bag.

There is a drive connection between the inner ends of the drive-shaft and the shank. This is shown obtained by providing the inner end of the drive-shaft with slots 36 extending in axial direction along the same. A socket-piece 37 is received in a socket 38 in the inner end of the shank 31. A reinforcing ring 39 is received about the inner end of the shank and about said socket and socketpiece.

The resilience of the shank 81 may be sup- Iemented by spring wire, accomplished for nstance by a spring wire shank 40 seated in a seat 41 on the socket-piece 37.

- A pin 42 is located in said socket-piece and said ring, and is rigidly secured thereto, as by being riveted in place. The pin is located a distance from the bottom of the socket in the socket-piece. The outer end of the socket-piece is provided with an annular flange T3. The construction forms a sli connection between the shaft and the shank for connecting the same by axial movement between them, and thereby establishing driving connection between the shaft and the shank. It also permits endwise yielding of the apex end of the applicator during operation, as when pressing laterally upon the side wall of the applicator.

The inflatable bag is preferably round in cross-section. 1 The drive-shaft 17, the hub 18, the flange 19, the washer 21 and the nut 22, as well as the socket-piece 37-, the ring 39, the spring l0 and the pin -11 may be made of metal.

In assembling the parts, the drive-shaft is slipped endwise into the hole 16 and the flange 19 is forced through said hole for loeating the margin of the hole at the outside of said flange. In thus assembling the parts,

the inner endof the drive-shaft is entered endwise into the socket-piece 37 and the walls of the slots 36 are received about the pin 42 and slipped endwise with relation thereto. The washer 21 and the nut 22 are thereupon clamped in place.

7 The drive-shaft 17 is shown as a hollow shaft, with the bore indicated at 45. An airvalve 46 is located in the bore 17 of the hub 18. This air-valve may be a usual form of check-valve in an automobile tube. It is provided with a stem 48. As is usual in such valves, the same is yieldable to outside pres sure for permitting inflation of the inflatable bag and is seated by the action of such pressure thereupon for retaining the pressure in the bag. A hole 51 is in the hollow shaft and connects the bore 45 in the drive-shaft with the interior of the inflatable bag, for form ing communication between said valve and the interior of the inflatable bag.

A handle 53 is provided for the bag, and has a drive-shaft 5a therein, journaled in ball-bearings 55. A flexible casing 56 provided with a rubber covering tube 57 is secured in the outer end of the handle. A flexible shaft 58 is in the flexible casing and has drive connection 59 with the shaft 54.

A chuck 63 connects the drive-shaft 54in the handle with the drive-shaft 17 in the bag. This chuck comprises a cup 64: fixed to the drive-shaft 5 1-. This cup is shown as a tapered cup andis arranged to receive a tapered plug 65 on the hub 18. A threaded stud 66 is fixed in the cup and is complemental to a threaded socket 67 in the outer end of the hub 18. p

The direction of threading of these threads is opposite to the direction of rotation of the drive-shaft, so that rotation and use of thc applicator tendsto secure the drive-shaft in the handle and the drive-shaft in the applicator together, and to draw the chuck-faces of the chuck 63 toward each other, for intimate driving connection between said shafts.

The cushion bag is provided with layers of surface contacting material. These layers are arranged to be'individually removed, so that the layers can be successively used for surface contact in treating the surface. v These layers are exemplified as treating bags, which are nested one upon the other, and received about the cushion bag. These treating bags are exemplified at 71 to 76 inclusive. These treating bags are preferably seamless fabric knitted bags, the knitting and material being such as is most adaptable for the treating operation. The treating bags may be softer or harder or finer or coarser as may be desired and as the character of finishing shall require.

.The treatingbags are preferably knitted in full fashion form, conforming to the form of the inflatable bag, when inflated, and have base ends 81 and apex ends 82. They are received one upon the other about the inflatable bag. The base ends are provided with mouths 83, the margins 84 of which are elastic. This may be accomplished for instance by providing an annular rubber band 85 in a ready means whereby the treating bags may be individually removed or stripped ofl of theapplicator when the outer treating bag has served itspresent usefulness, so as to expose the treating bags successively for use in the treating operation.

The treating bags are received about the inflatable bag, and, if desired, an absorbent bag 90 may be received about the inflatable bag between the inflatable bag and the treating bags. This absorbent bag conforms in shape to the shape of the inflatable bag when inflated to the desired extent. The absorbent bag and the treating bags rotate together with the inflatable ba The absorbent bag comprises a base end 91 and an apex end 92 and a side wall 93. This absorbent bag is of absorbent material and may for instance be of felt. It has a mount 9% which is arranged to slip over the inflatable bag. The margin 95 of the mouth is preferably resilient for holding the absorbent bag on the inflatable bag. The margin 95 may be formed by the selvedge of the bag. The absorbent bag is preferably a samless full fashioned bag.

\Vhen employing an absorbent bag, the material used in the finishing, such as oil or wax, maybe applied to the absorbent bag either before or after the same is placed about the inflatable bag, and the treating bags may be applied about the absorbent bag, the treating liquid or material being fed by the absorbent bag to the treating bags for permeating the treating bags, which permeation is enhanced by the heat generated by the friction between the applicator and the surface being treated.

If desired, the finishing substance, such as oil or wax, may be applied directly to the treating bags about the inflatable bag in the presence of or during the absence of employ: ment of the absorbent bag.

Our improved applicators are employable in various uses. For instance, they may be employed in Washingor cleaning surfaces, the washing water or fluid being appplied while the rotating applicator is being applied to the surface. The treating bags may be removed successively as they become soiled.

()ur improved applicator is also employable for applying a composition to the sur- I face to be finished. This composition may be a wax or other oil or coating material. During such use the treating bags may be successively removed or stripped from the applica tor, as the outer ones thereof respectively become soiled or clogged, or a fresh treating bag is desirable.

Our improved applicator is also employable for polishing the surface being finished. In such use the rotating applicator is applied to the surface being finished, which has preferably been previously waxed or had other oil or finishing substance applied thereto.

' lVhen employing the applicator as a polisher,

the absorbent bag is preferably not present, or else an absorbent bag is employed which is preferably clean, that is, is not saturated with wax, oil or other finishing ingredient.

The treating bags are preferably received about the inflatable bag. These treating bags apply a polishing friction to the surface being polished. The treating bags may be successively removed as they become soiled or saturated with the .wax, oil or other finishing ingredient previously applied to the surface being polished.

If desired a treating bag having an abrasive surface may be employed. Such a treating bag is shown at 96, in Fig. 6, having an abrasive surface 97,.for instance of sand or emery, suitably applied. The bag 96 is of a form similar to the treating bags 71 to 76, and is provided with a resilient mouth 98 arranged to he slipped over the cushion bag 11 and the absorbent beg 90, when the latter is employed. The resilience of the mouth 98 nay be obtained by a rubber band 99 similar to the rubber band 85, and similarly secured. The treating bag 96 may have a fabric body.

In employing our improved device, the walls of the applicator yield to pressure upon the surface being finished, and these walls make surface contact of substantial area with the surface being finished, throughout which yielding contact area there is friction between the area of the yielding surface and the surface being flnished. The applicator is preferably of substantially greater length than diameter at its portion of greatest diameter, and preferably tapers gradually from its base toward its apex.v The apex portion of the applicator is also preferably yieldable laterally due to the presence of the resilient shank in the interior of the applicator. The applicator also is provided with a blunt point.

The form and construction of the applicator permits the applicator to be received in sharp corners and recesses, along beads, throughout various contours of surface, in crevices, along the various parts of window and door frames, and between objects, such as are usual in automobiles and the like.

Changes may be made in the parts we have preferred to show in the present exemplification of our invention without departing from the spirit of our invention stated in the ac companying claims.

Having thus fully described our invention. What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: v

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a cushion bag, a driveshaft for rotating said bag, said drive-shaft extending into said bag from one end of said bag, a resilient shank connected with the other end of said bag and extending axially in said bag, and a drive connection in said bag between said drive-shaft and said resilient shank.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a cushion bag, a driveshaft for rotating said bag, said drive-shaft extending into said bag from one end of said bag, a resilient shank connected with the other end of said bag and extending axially in said bag, and a drive connection in said bag between said drive-shaft and said resilient shank, said drive connection provided with means permitting axial movement between said drive-shaft and said resilient shank while compellingrotation of said shank wit-h said drive-shaft.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tapering cushion bag, and a. drive shaft and a resilient shank in line with each other in the interior of said bag and having operative connections with each other and with the base end and the apex end of said bag and said drive shaft extending outside said bag through said base, and the wall of said bag being resilient to yield laterally.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tapering cushion bag, a drive shaft and a resilient shank in line with each other in the interior of said bag and having operative connections with each other and with the base end and the apex end of said bag and said drive shaft extending outside said bag through said base, the wall of said bag being resilient to yield laterally, an absorbent bag about said cushion bag, nested treating bags about said absorbent bag, and releasable securing means permitting individual removal of said treating bags for successive use of said treating bags.

5. In adevice of the character described, the combination of a tapered cushion bag, a hollow drive-shaft extending into said bag from its base ends attached to the ends of said bag, said hollow drive-shaft having an opening into the interior of said bag, a handle, a drive-shaft therein, driving connection between said drive-shafts adjacent said base end, and a check-valve in the outer end of said hollow drive-shaft.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tapered cushion bag, a drive-shaft extending into said bag from its base end, a resilient shank extending inwardly from the apex of said bag toward said drive-shaft, and an axially yieldable drive connection in said bag between said drive-shaft and said shank.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tapered rubber cushion bag having an axial rubber shank extending inwardly in said bag from its apex end, a drive-shaft extending into said bag from its base end, a drive connection between said drive-shaft and the base end of said bag, and drive connection between said drive-shaft and said shank.

8. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a tapered cushion bag of oil proof rubber, a drive shaft, driving connections between said drive shaft and the ends of said tapered cushion bag, and a nest of open ended fabric bags about said tapered cushion bag, with the open ends of said fabric bags received about the base end of said cushion bag, and individual releasable securing means securing said open ends about said base end.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tapered rubber cushion bag, an axial hollow drive-shaft extending into said bag from its base end, securing means between said drive-shaft and said baseend, an axial rubber shank extending inward- 1y into said bag from its apex end, the outer end of said rubber shank fixed to said apex end and having its inner end spaced from the wall of said bag, and a slip drive-connection in said bag between the inner ends of said drive-shaft and said shank.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tapered rubber cushion bag, an axial hollow drive-shaft extending into said bag from its base end, securing means between said drive-shaft and said baseend, an axial rubber shank extending inwardly into said bag from its apex end, the outer end of said rubber shank fixed to said apex end and having its inner end spaced from the wall of said bag, and a resilient spring shank extending lengthwise of said axial rubber shank.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tapered cushion bag of oil proof rubber, a drive-shaft, driving connections between said drive-shaft and the respective ends of said bag, and a nest of fabric bags about said tapered cushion bag, said respective fabric bags provided with independent elastic mouths independently received over said cushion bag and arranged for permitting successive removal of individual ones of said fabric bags for successive use of said fabric bags.

12. An elongated elastic envelope which is circular in cross-section, an axial aperture at one end thereof, a valve secured in said aperture, said valve forming a shaft extending from the end of said envelope and providing means for the inflation thereof, and a coupling for coupling said shaft to a driving shaft.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names:

CARL F. SEIBERT. ELMER J. SEIBERT. 

